Resources for Training with Style Matters

Trainer's Guide to Conflict Style Workshops The "big" guide.  This is the foundational trainers guide, 40 pages or more, that explains the concepts behind Style Matters.   It was written for the print version, and then expanded to include the online version.  But to train with the online version be sure to download the much shorter guide to it.

Trainer's Guide to Training with ONLINE version https://bit.ly/TrainOnline2020This 10 page guide doesn't address any concepts at all - its purpose is to suggest training strategies with the online version.   If you train only with the online version, the quickest learning path is probably to start with this to get the big picture of what your training outline might look like.  Then refer to the big guide above as needed for concepts.

Intro to Conflict Styles in Powerpoint Overview of key concepts underlying the 5 styles-of-conflict framework.  Ten slides in 2 minutes.  Perfect to kick off the interpretation section of a workshop.  View free on our site at any time or download and take it with you for $24.95.   (Translaters: If you want to translate this, send a note to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.and we'll provide you a copy.)

Intro to Conflict Styles in Prezi Similar to above, but in flowing Prezi format and 25% longer.  View it free on our site or download and take it with you for $49.95.   It's like Powerpoint with motion!

Guide to Online Resources on Conflict Styles Annotated collection of online resources related to conflict styles and conflict resolution training.  Topics include culture, gender, research, anger management, negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Free Review PDF of Style Matters This is a review copy in PDF of the print version of Style Matters conflict style inventory.  You are free to circulate it as it has portions blacked out to prevent unauthorized use.

Pages from the Print Version that Trainers Using the Online Version Might Want to Use as Handouts  If you want handouts to give to users with additional info about conflict styles not contained in the digital score report, this is a good option. There are 11 pages here from the print version of Style Matters.  This is a PDF that you can print out and pass out, or send as a PDF to users.   Most of the stuff here is already found in the Online Tutorial, but it's more nicely formatted here.

Handout on Transition Phrases

Join Our Celebration!

Free Access to Style Matters for the First 200 Users

We upgraded the score report for the Style Matters conflict style inventory in 2019.   Users are giving us a big thumbs up.  88% say they'd recommend Style Matters to others!

So it's Holiday time and we're celebrating - free use of Style Matters to the first 200 takers!   

Just click on the button below and answer 20 short questions. It takes about 10 minutes.  You'll get back our upgraded 10 page score report, visible on screen and in your email, with detailed information about your conflict style preferences and how to get the most out of them.   Enter this passcode when prompted: RkGz9zc5S2X         The code is not case specific. You can type it by hand or copy and paste it from this email to the login.

Summary of User Feedback Regarding Style Matters* 

Trainer Feedback Here   

* Data is from 87 individuals who responded to our invitation for feedback sent in the period May to November, 2019.

User comment on benefits of taking Style Matters.  We asked users: What's the primary benefit you received from your experience with Style Matters? They replied:

• "Understanding the difference between "calm" and "stormy" styles. Seeing how I switch my approach depending on the context and intensity."
• "Your noticing that my shift of 6 points (cooperative to compromise) when I move from calm to storm may confuse my partner sheds light on his frequent complaint that I quit [when actually I'm not, I'm just trying to be realistic about what we are capable of at that moment]."
• "I appreciated the distinctions between Calm and Storm styles [and order] as it provides a better way of understanding where I go as conflict/tension escalates."
• "Not to piss someone off before you figure out what their actual/ underlying problem is."
• "I did this as part of a Healthcare Management degree class assignment. Insight is always good when it comes to leadership. This allowed me to realize how much I have grown and worked on myself."
• "It was used for a team building exercise at my job and it helped a lot."
• "Time for internal reflection."
• "Gave me insights to better understanding my conflict style and where I could put in an effort to be more effective when faced with conflicts."
• "Learning about how myself and others react to conflict and strategies of how to deal with others who have different styles than myself.:
• "Identifying different conflict styles between my partner and I, and helping us to understand how best to engage with the other when either of us is upset."
• "Great comparison with TKI assessment."
• "Telling my team how I respond to conflict."
• "Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of my conflict style."
• "Gave me info to think about—skills to hone in on especially with the pros & cons."
• "The critique of excessive dependence on a strong style is insightful."
• "I focused on a particular person I need to have a difficult conversation with.  It helped."
• "Which style I lean on under stress."
• "Gained better understanding as to whom am I as a negotiator."
• "The explanation that helped me realize my primary style is both good and not-so-good. The contrast helps."
• "Interesting to learn that my cooperative style doesn't always work well with someone who has an avoidance style. Things don't get accomplished that way!"
• "I now recognize my shortcomings and where i need to tone down my style when working with others."
• "Recognition of my style and how to improve."
• "Ability to discuss, in more detail, the way I address conflict."
• "I learned a lot about myself."
• "Sense of strengths and weaknesses with conflict engagement and resolution."
• "Gave me a clear affirmation of why I handle conflict the way I handle it."

About Style Matters

Style Matters gives individuals and teams a simple, engaging, and positive way to reflect on conflict resolution patterns and improve them.  Users answer 20 questions about their responses in settings of Calm and Storm, and get a score report pointing out patterns that most people are barely conscious of.  By studying the picture that the Style Matters score report holds up before them, users become more aware of what they typically do in conflict and can more easily choose responses that enable them to achieve their goals.   The score report provides detailed suggestions for optimizing conflict response.   

Style Matters is unique among conflict style inventories in two ways:

1) The inventory measures responses in both Calm and Storm, recognizing the reality that stress can have drastic effects on behavior (in other words, how you respond when you you're really ticked may be quite different than when you're calm.)  No other conflict style inventory accounts for this obvious dynamic.
2)  Style Matters is suitable for users from a variety of backgrounds, thanks to its unique way of posing questions.

Style Matters has been psychometrically validated,  It is used by hundreds of trainers, teachers, and consultants and administered to many thousands of users every year, at institutions such as George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, the Justice Institute of British Columbia, Liberty University, the US and Canadian militaries, and many others.